Marine Biogeochemistry unit (QMS512)

Hobart

Introduction

Biogeochemistry describes the cycling of carbon, nutrients, metals and more as they transform between living and non-living components of the Earth system. Marine biogeochemistry is a relatively young science which over the past 50 years has grown from an investigation into the transport and transformation of chemicals in the ocean to now encompass the interaction between those chemical processes, the health of the biosphere and the stability of the climate. The full field is very broad, ranging from questions concerning the origin and extraction of important resources in seawater (e.g. rare earth elements, gold, uranium) to the ocean’s ability to support global fisheries through net primary production, to the feed backs dictating whether the ocean will buffer or amplify our changing climate. In this brief introductory unit, we focus on just one small subset of the field – the interactions between ocean productivity, biogeochemical processes and ocean-climate feedbacks at the global scale, with a particular focus on the oceanic control on atmospheric carbon dioxide. Together, we will learn exactly how the ocean holds so much carbon, keeping the climate hospitable for life on Earth. We will then apply these concepts to understand both how Earth system models can project future change in the ocean carbon sink and how emerging marine Carbon Dioxide Removal technologies are being proposed to pull even more carbon out of the atmosphere and into the ocean.

Summary

Unit name	Marine Biogeochemistry
Unit code	QMS512
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies
Discipline	Oceans Ice and Climate
Coordinator	Mr Tyler Rohr
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Block 2

Note

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Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Block 2	26/4/2026	11/5/2026	20/5/2026	13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Discuss the distribution of carbon and nutrients in the ocean and outline the processes that generate these distributions.
• Asses the balance of factors that determine biological productivity in the oceans.
• Compare the utility and limitations of how different isotopic and geochemical proxies can help constrain biogeochemical cycles.
• Obtain, manipulate, and analyse ocean biogeochemical data to test scientific hypotheses.
• Evaluate the role of the ocean in the pre-industrial and anthropogenically perturbed global carbon cycle.

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
010907	$1,192.00	$1,192.00	not applicable	$2,862.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KSA306

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	During each week, there will be 4-hours of Lectorial and 4-hours of Practical. Roughly 3-hours of self-directed learning at home (reading, recording, prep) in addition to any work on assignments. A four week period following the final week of teaching will be provided to work on the final assignment. During this period regular office hours will be held. Lectorial: Thursdays 12 – 4:00pm | IMAS Flex Space Practical: 9am – 1pm | IMAS Computer Lab Office Hours: Weekly, Time TBD (after final week of teaching; before final assignment due) The schedule of lectures and practicals is included at the end of this document. Lectures will be recorded and available on MyLO. Practicals will be available via Zoom, but students are strongly encouraged to attend in person.
Assessment	Reflective Journal (15%)|Questions from practicals (35%)|Project (50%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Ocean Biogeochemical Dynamics, Jorge L. Sarmiento and Nicholas Gruber, 2006, Princeton University Press. http://encore.lib.utas.edu.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1775096 Chemical Oceanography and the Marine Carbon Cycle, Steven R. Emerson and J. L. Hedges, 2008, Cambridge University Press.http://encore.lib.utas.edu.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2416745

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